Fatal Desire

Chapter 158 Xixi Doesn't Want to Be a Burden on Her Aunt

With Zhao Yansen's qualifications and abilities, he does not need any marriage alliance, and the Xiao and Zhao families do not need to rely on others.

Zhao Zongting took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and lit it silently.

After smoking in silence for a while, he looked at Zhao Yansen and asked, "You like her?"

Worried that Song Xi would wake up and find him gone, Zhao Yansen was looking down at his phone for new messages. Hearing this, he didn't even look up and replied without hesitation, "Very much."

Zhao Zongting's expression was serious and solemn, and his smoking fingers paused for a moment.

I never expected that his calm and composed eldest son would utter such passionate words so casually.

The father and son had made everything clear, and Zhao Yansen didn't care about Zhao Zongting's thoughts or whether he agreed with them.

His purpose in coming was simply to prevent Zhao Zongting from speaking with Song Xi.

Although there were no new messages on his phone, Zhao Yansen was still worried that Song Xi would be disappointed if she woke up and couldn't see him, so he got up and left.

The night fog was thick, and the evening breeze carried a slight chill, along with a faint, delicate floral fragrance.

Zhao Zongting sat alone on the veranda, a deep, unspeakable frustration rising in his chest, and a sound escaped his throat.

Aside from discussing business, the father and son never sat down to talk to each other.

Now, they're arguing endlessly over a girl.

Absolutely absurd!

*
On the way back to Xizi Bay, the red light came on.

Looking at the empty, deserted street ahead, Zhao Yansen felt like a lost soul, wandering aimlessly.

Love is ethereal and fleeting; it cannot last if it exists only in the spiritual realm. Between him and Song Xi, too many practical problems stood in the way.

There's always a solution to every problem.

He handles all the mundane, trivial matters.

The red light turns green.

The black sedan drove into the boundless night, gradually merging with the ink-like color of the sky, while in the distance, the sky faintly turned a pale white, and a ray of light broke through the darkness to illuminate the world.

Back at the apartment, Song Xi was still fast asleep.

When he left, the slip dress had been hanging obediently down to his thighs, but now it had been rolled up to his waist, revealing a patch of delicate skin.

Zhao Yansen smiled helplessly, gently pulled down her skirt, and covered her with a comfortable wool blanket.

He lay down beside her, gazing at her sleeping face, and gently pinched her chin with his thumb and forefinger, playing with her cheeks.

Song Xi mumbled something sleepily, rolled over, draped one long leg over his, and wrapped her whole body around him: "Brother..."

She didn't open her eyes, as if she could recognize him even in her dreams.

Zhao Yansen smiled, held her in his arms, and closed his eyes to rest.

I slept extremely well and comfortably.

The heavy curtains blocked out the outside light, making the room dim and quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Song Xi woke up groggily, looked up at Zhao Yansen from his arms, and seeing that her brother was still sleeping, she didn't rush to get up.

She unbuttoned his clothes and then buttoned them up again, one button at a time, without finding it boring.

Then a hoarse male voice sounded from above: "What are you thinking about?"

"You're awake." Song Xi looked up at him, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Ah."

“I was thinking about my aunt.” Song Xi answered his previous question, then pondered, “My aunt has had a very hard time these past few years. She has too many things to deal with and hasn’t been able to take care of me.”

Zhao Yansen: "Is it her fault for ignoring you?"

“It’s not my fault,” Song Xi said. “My aunt didn’t really neglect me.”

Song Yunyu would think of her whenever she saw something nice, but she spent less time with her.

One person's energy is limited, and my aunt cannot be perfect in every aspect.

Song Xi can accept that Song Yunyu doesn't put her first.

Her aunt gave up so much for her, including her first love with whom she had a seven-year-long relationship.

During her years in the Zhao family, if she ever complained to her aunt, her aunt would always take her in without hesitation, just like before.

But she wanted to be a sensible niece, not wanting to worry her aunt, and even less wanting to hold her back. Song Xi said earnestly, "Aunt has the freedom and right to pursue happiness."

Xixi didn't want to be a burden to her aunt, and she didn't want to be a drag on her.

"Where's my brother?" Zhao Yansen asked in a low voice.

"My brother has me."

"Hmm." His voice carried a hint of amusement this time.

Song Xi nestled against his chest, gazing intently at him: "I am your happiness, brother, and I am your happiness."

happy.

She once told Fu Guanyue, "I will never be happy again."

Now that word has come back to haunt her.

Zhao Yansen treated her very well, but when he went too far, he could be truly ruthless.

She begged him like that back then... She was willing to give up everything, not even love or dignity, she just wanted to stay by his side.

She had never begged anyone like this before.

But he calmly watched her go crazy.

As a result, she was both shaped and destroyed by him.

That was the first time she abandoned everything to beg him, and the only time he remained indifferent to her.

Her aunt would never treat her that badly. Whenever she spoke, her aunt would rush forward to protect her.

Whenever she thought of this, her emotions would become uncontrollable, and a sense of collapse and despair would silently well up. Song Xi's eyes would quickly become wet, and a tear would slide down her cheek.

She didn't regret falling in love with him, but she did resent him.

Why were you so good to her, and then so cold to her?
He shouldn't have been nice to her in the first place; he should have always treated her like she wasn't there.

Without his care, living under the roof of the Zhao family, she might have become sensitive and insecure, but she would never have experienced the despair and collapse of being pushed into the abyss by the person she trusted most.

She knew perfectly well that her aunt would always be her last refuge. Whenever she needed to, she could retreat there.

Zhao Yansen cupped her face in his warm hands, gently wiping away a tear with his fingertips: "What's wrong?"

Song Xi shook her head.

She shifted her body, pressing herself completely against him.

"If you treat me badly again, even if you apologize a hundred times, I will never forgive you."

Zhao Yansen met her gaze, a rare hint of vulnerability flashing in his deep black eyes. He promised in a low, hoarse voice, "I won't dare to do it again."

It's not that I can't, it's that I don't dare.

Through the trials of time, they have become indispensable parts of each other's lives.

Her soul and flesh were built by him, and the meaning of his life was made tangible by her existence.

*
As Chenxing got on track, even more complex challenges arose. Song Xi was busy dealing with problems from all sides and had almost no time to return to the courtyard house.

One weekday afternoon, she was sitting in her office when she suddenly felt a strange discomfort in her heart.

After signing the last document, she said to Cheng Nian, "Cancel the afternoon and evening schedules."

"Yes, Mr. Song."

Cheng Nian noticed that her face was a little pale. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm a little nervous, but it shouldn't be anything serious. You can go ahead and get back to work."

Song Xi picked up her bag, left the company directly, and drove back to the courtyard house.

Zhao Yansen arranged regular medical checkups for her, and the reports showed that there was nothing seriously wrong with her health, but this sudden heart palpitation made her inexplicably uneasy.

A thought suddenly seized her: Could something have happened to her aunt?

Back at the courtyard house, Song Yunyu was nowhere to be seen. Her heart sank, and she immediately inquired with the housekeeper, Uncle Qin.

Uncle Qin looked troubled and sighed, "Madam... is in the hospital. She specifically instructed us not to tell you, for fear that Miss would worry."

Song Xi's heart clenched suddenly.

(End of this chapter)